The present invention extends to handheld practice devices for practicing to play stringed instruments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a practice device that may assist a user in learning how to properly finger and play a stringed musical instrument. A user can hold an elongate handle and place one or more of his or her fingers on strings to practice fingerings that are used to play chords/notes. Real instrument strings can be used, helping to strengthen a user's fingertips and get the fingertips accustomed to holding/pinching the instrument strings. Further, the stringed instrument practice device can be portable and sized to fit within the user's hand. Accordingly, a user can realize advantages of the invention and utilize practice methods while the user is “on the go,” riding on a bus, watching television, waiting in line, etc.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A device used to practice a stringed musical instrument, the device comprising: an elongate handle representing a neck portion of the stringed musical instrument, the elongate handle including a first end, a second end, and a top portion, the elongate handle sized and configured to fit in the hand of a user of the device, the first end representing the end of the stringed musical instrument where string tension is adjusted; at least four strings; a first string holder at the first end for holding strings in place; a second string holder at the second end for holding strings in place; wherein the at least four strings are secured by the first and second string holders and run along the top portion between the first end of the elongate handle and the second end of the elongate handle; and wherein the elongate handle further includes a hollow area within the elongate handle, the hollow area externally accessible at the second end of the elongate handle, the hollow area configured to house a component that is slidable within the hollow area to extend away from the elongate handle and to retract into the elongate handle.
2. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a slidable extension component, the slidable extension component including a spring loaded holding pin and a protrusion, the protrusion remaining external to the hollow area even when the slidable extension component is fully retracted into the hollow area.
3. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the hollow area further comprises a guide plate, wherein the slidable extension slides on the guide plate when being extended away from or retracted into the elongate handle.
4. The device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the guild plate comprises a cut out that is configured to accept the spring loaded holding pin, wherein when the slidable extension component is extended away from the elongate handle a specified distance the spring loaded holding pin expands into the cut out to secure the slidable extension component at the specified distance.
5. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the strings are musical strings designed for use with a stringed musical instrument.
6. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the stringed musical instrument is a stringed musical instrument selected from among: a guitar, a bass-guitar, a violin, a viola, a cello, a bass, a double bass, a mandolin, and a banjo.
7. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the elongate handle representing a neck portion of the stringed musical instrument comprises an elongate handle representing a neck portion of a guitar and wherein the top portion includes a plurality of frets.
8. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least four strings comprise six strings.
9. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the elongate handle representing a neck portion of the stringed musical instrument comprises an elongate handle representing a neck portion of a violin and wherein the top portion includes a fingerboard.
10. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first string holder comprises for each of the at least four strings a nut and screw that are used to secure the string at the first end of the elongate handle.
11. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first string holder comprises a plurality of machine heads, each machine head configured to accept at least two strings and secure the at least two strings at the first end of the elongate handle.
12. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second string holder comprises glue used to secure the at least four strings at the second end of the elongate handle.
13. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least four strings comprises at least four strings that have a ball end at one end; wherein the elongate handle includes a corresponding at least four holes at the second end of the elongate handle, the holes of sufficient size that a ball end can fit into the holes; and wherein the second string holder comprises a holding pin that runs through the ball ends of the at least for strings to secure the at least four strings at the second end of the elongate handle.
14. A device used to practice a stringed musical instrument, the device comprising: an elongate handle representing a neck portion of the stringed musical instrument, the elongate handle including a first end, a second end, and a top portion, the elongate handle sized and configured to fit in the hand of a user of the device, the first end representing the end of the stringed musical instrument where string tension is adjusted; at least four strings; a first string holder at the first end for holding strings in place; a second string holder at the second end for holding strings in place; wherein the at least four strings are secured by the first and second string holders and run along the top portion between the first end of the elongate handle and the second end of the elongate handle; wherein the elongate handle further includes a hollow area within the elongate handle, the hollow area including guide plate having a cut out, the cut configured to accept a spring loaded holding pin, the hollow area externally accessible at the second end of the elongate handle, the hollow area configured to house a component that is slidable within the hollow area to extend away from the elongate handle and to retract into the elongate handle when manipulated by the user; and a slidable extension component including a protrusion that remains external to the hollow area when the slidable extension component is retracted into the hollow area, the protrusion graspable by the user to slide the slidable extension component along the guide plate, the slidable extension component including the spring load holding pin that expands into the cut out to secure the slidable extension component within the hollow area when the slidable extension component is extended away from the elongate handle a specified distance.
15. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the strings are musical strings designed for use with a stringed musical instrument, and constructed of one or more of: animal products, plant products, polymer materials, and metal alloys.
16. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the stringed musical instrument is a stringed musical instrument selected from among: a guitar, a bass-guitar, a violin, a viola, a cello, a bass, a double bass, a mandolin, and a banjo.
17. The device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the top portion includes a plurality of frets constructed from fret wire, the plurality of frets representing a portion of a fret board.
18. The device of claim 14 , wherein the top portion includes a first string guide at the first end and a second string guide at the second end, the first and second strings guides maintaining appropriate spacing between each of the at least four stings along the top portion.
19. A guitar practice device used to practice playing a guitar, the device comprising: an elongate handle representing a neck portion of the guitar, the elongate handle including a first end, a second end, and a portion of a fret board, the elongate handle sized and configured to fit in the hand of a user of the device, the first end representing the end of the guitar where string tension is adjusted; six strings corresponding to the six strings of a guitar; a first string holder at the first end for holding strings in place; a second string holder at the second end for holding strings in place; wherein the strings are secured by the first and second string holders and run along the fret board between the first end of the elongate handle and the second end of the elongate handle; a first string guide at the first end; a second string guide at the second end; wherein the first and second string guides maintain appropriate spacing between each of six stings along the fret board; wherein the elongate handle further includes a hollow area within the elongate handle, the hollow area including guide plate having a cut out, the cut configured to accept a spring loaded holding pin, the hollow area externally accessible at the second end of the elongate handle, the hollow area configured to house a component that is slidable within the hollow area to extend away from the elongate handle and to retract into the elongate handle when manipulated by the user; and a slidable extension component including a protrusion that remains external to the hollow area when the slidable extension component is retracted into the hollow area, the protrusion graspable by the used to slide the slidable extension component along the guide plate, the slidable extension component including the spring load holding pin that expands into the cut out to secure the slidable extension component within the hollow area when the slidable extension component is extended away from the elongate handle a specified distance.
20. The guitar practice device as recited in claim 19 , wherein the slidable extension component is of sufficient length to provide additional support for the elongate member when extended.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 14, 2010
February 28, 2012
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.